Prison Staff Caught Smuggling – Up 58%

The number of prison staff caught smuggling contraband items into jails in England and Wales has increased 58% since 2012, it has been reported.

More than 340 people have faced either disciplinary or judicial proceedings for bringing drugs, mobile phones or other banned items into prisons in the last six years, according to The Observer.

The paper’s data, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act from the Ministry of Justice, showed that the year with the highest number of staff caught was 2017, where the figure stood at 71. This compares to 45 in 2012.

Centre for Social Justice director Andy Cook told The Observer the figures were “deeply concerning” and said ministers needed to “get a grip”.

He added: “Drugs are at the heart of this, fuelling violence, suicide and completely undermining the likelihood that prisoners will be able to turn their lives around.”

Drugs were found 35 times a day in prisons in England and Wales on average last year, while the number of finds has trebled since 2014, the paper said.

Useful links

Prisons Handbook

Now in its 20th annual edition the 1,200-page Prisons Handbook 2018 is the definitive annual guide to the penal system of England and Wales. A comprehensive 550 page A-Z Prison section lists every penal establishment in the country with all its facilities and the 200 page Advice Section spans reception to release, all recent reports, prison law section– and much more…

Converse News

Converse is the national newspaper for prisoners in England and Wales, delivering up to 60,000 copies a month into 135 prison establishments this 32-page newspaper has won glowing accolades from its readers for its robust editorial policy of confronting difficult criminal justice issues and highlighting proven criminal conduct by public officials.

Prison Law

Founded in 1998 The Institute of Prison Law exists to further the practice and knowledge of current prison law.

Authorised by the Law Society for CPD purposes IPL delivers the Certificate of Competency in Prison Law studied by over 1000 lawyers, prison staff and prisoners themselves.